Wrist watch band



J ne 113, 1950 F A AU 2,511,333

WRIST WATCH BAND Filed July 25, 1949 Patented June 13, 1950 UNITED STATES P OFFICE TENT Claims.

The invention relates to wrist watch bands or bracelets, which are secured to a watch and are adapted to encompass the wrist of the wearer.

Wrist watch bands of various kinds and construction are obtainable on the market but are unsatisfactory either because, as in the case of leather, they deteriorate and discolor rapidly or in the case of metal bands of solid construction they deteriorate under the influence of perspiration, or in the case of expansible bands contain a large number of crevices in which foreign substances collect which combined with the perspiration of the wrist are objectionable.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide air flow around the wrist, is easily applied and removed, and which may be kept in clean and sanitary condition to obviate disintegration.

It is a, further object to provide a wrist band which is made of a pair of wires which are substantially parallel and bent to conform to the curvature of the wrist, the ends of the wire being spaced to provide a gap and the wire ends at each side of the gap being connected by integral wire portions to form a loop.

Another feature comprises the provision of wire band wherein the cross section of the Wire is semi-circular so that the flat side of the wire is in contact with the wrist.

Astill further object constitutes the provision of a band made of a pair of wires bent to conform to the curvature of the wrist there being bridges to connect the Wires to hold them in proper position and to form supports for clips which secure the band to the watch case or head.

Another object constitutes the provision of a band wherein the bridges are secured at portions having the least amount of flexing or bending strain. It is also an object of the invention to provide certain details of construction and arrangements of parts tending to enhance the utility and efficiency of the device.

With these and other objects which will become apparent from a disclosure of the invention, the latter comprises the means described in the following specification, particularly pointed out in the claims forming a part thereof, and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a, bottom plan view of the band constructed in accordance with my invention;

Fig. 2 is .a side view;

Fig. 3 is an end View;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary enlarged side view;

Fig. 5 is a section on the line 55 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a modification of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a detail view of the bridge;

Fig. 8 is a section on line 8-8 of Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is a detail view of the clip, and

Fig. 10 is a section on line Ill-40 of Fig. 9.

Referring to the various views in the drawing 53 generally designates the wrist watch band which comprises .a pair of wires H and 12 made of precious metal or stainless steel and being resilient to automatically resume original condition after distortion or bending.

The wires are spaced and are parallel and rectilinear between the points I3 and I4 (Fig. 2) which portion contacts the back of the wrist and each wire has a semi-circular cross section to engage the wrist with the flat side. The points l3 and I4 are at the ends of the wrist watch as clearly appears from Fig. 2. The wires II and I2 extend beyond the points l3 and I4 and are bent to conform to the curvature of the wrist. The wires converge and stop short of the vertical plane intersecting the center of the rectilinear portion Iii-44 whereby a circumferential gap i5 is afforded.

The ends of the wires I I, I2 at each side of the gap l5 are connected by an integral wire portion Hi. The rectilinear part of the wires is secured to the watch case I! indicated in dotted lines in Figs. 1 and 2 as hereinafter more fully explained,

. so thatethe curved portions of the wires bent substantially into oval shape act in the manner of cantilever springs to enhance the resiliency of the wires.

The employment of wires to form the wrist watch band entails considerable saving in material and also increases the resiliency of the band.

In order to prevent spreading of the wires II and i2 two connecting members or bridges l8 are provided each of which comprises an oblong member tapering downwardly to conform to the taper of the wires H and I2 (Fig. 7) and rounded at the ends as at I?) and. 20.

The bridges l5 are provided with integral lateral lugs 2! and 22 (Fig. '7) which may be curled around the wires II and I2, respectively, to secure the bridge to the wire. Each bridge is also formed with a bayonet slot comprising an elongated slot 23 which opens at the upper end as viewed in Fig. 7 into a circular aperture 24 of larger diameter than the width of the slot. The bridges are secured to the wires II and I2 at a position where the least amount of flexing or beading of the wires occur, as will be readily seen by reference to Fig. 4.

The bridges are also provided to form a support for clips 25 which are slightly curved tapering members formed with lateral flanges 28 (Fig. 10) and terminating at the upper end in a semi circular lip 21. A rivet 28 is secured to the inner side of the clip 25 such as by soldering, the head of the rivet being of a diameter to pass through the aperture 24 of the bridge while the shank is slidable in the slot 23.

In assembling the band, the lips of the clips are secured to the pins 29 of the watch case while the rivet 23 is introduced through the aperture 24 and caused to enter the slot 23 of the bridge. 7

Since the rivet is slidable in the bridge slot 23 the pins 29 are not subjected to strain when the band is flexed or separated in applying to or removal from the wrist.

In Fig. 6 a slight modification is shown wherein the flanges 2| and 22 are soldered to the wires II and [2, respectively. Instead Of soldering the rivet 28 to the clip it may be riveted thereto as at 30.

Attention is called to the .fact that the band is free from inner springs or crevices but is easily accessible to cleaning and thus may be readily maintained in clean and sanitary condition.

The drawing shows one embodiment of the invention but various changes and alterations may be made without departing .from the the spirit of the invention.

I, therefore, do not limit myself to the details of construction and arrangement of parts, as shown, but include all modifications and re-arrangernents constituting departures within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

'I claim:

1. A wrist watch band, comprising a pair of spaced resilient wires shaped to the curvature of a wrist, said wires being parallel at the center for a distance to contact the back of the wrist watch and support the same and thence converging to the terminal portions and closed at the ends by an integral semi-circular wire portion, said closed wire ends being spaced from one another to afford spreading thereof in applying to or removing from the wrist, and means for securing the parallel wire portion to a watch.

'2. -As an article of manufacture, a wrist watch band comprising a pair of resilient wires spaced from one another and bent to conform to the curvature of a wrist, said wires being closed at the ends by integral wire portions and the closed ends being spaced apart to provide a gap, cross members transversely connecting said wires, and clips slidably mounted on said cross members and adapted to engage the cross pins of a watch case.

3. As an article of manufacture, a wrist watch band comprising a pair of resilient wires spaced from one another and bent to conform to the curvature of a wrist, said wires being closed at the ends by integral wire portions and the closed ends being spaced apart to provide a gap, cross members transversely connecting said Wires and provided with a bayonet slot, clips adapted to be secured at one end to the cross pins of a watch case, and a rivet on said clip adapted to center the bayonet slot in said cross members.

4. A wrist watch band, comprising a pair of resilient spaced wires bent into substantially oval shape with the ends spaced to provide a circumferential gap, cross members connecting said spaced wires, and clips slidable on said cross members and adapted to engage the cross pins or a watch case.

5. A wrist watch band comprising a pair of resilient spaced wires extending rectilinearly .ior a short run to form a supporting base for a wrist Watch and then bent into substantially oval shape to provide cantilever springs with the ends spaced to form a circumferential gap, cross members transversely connecting said spaced wires, and clips slidably secured to said cross members and adapted to encompass at one end the cross pins of a watch case.

JAMES G. FLATAU.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 7 D. 143,816 Flatau Feb. 12 1946 442,377 Hull Dec. 9, 1890 2,057,913 Flacetini Oct. 20, 1936 2,313,073 Hovey Mar. 9, 1943 2,491,592 Turpin Dec. 20, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 22,382 Great Britain "1913 

